Body Art Studios

All Tattoo and Body Piercing Studios (referred to as Body Art Studios) must have a permit from the Health Department. All facilities that do Micro Blading must obtain a tattoo studio permit.

Environmental Health helps to protect the health of the citizens of Monongalia County by permitting and inspecting all body art studios. Body art studios are inspected every 6 months. Temporary body art studios are inspected when they set up for an event.

All tattooing and body piercing must be done at a permitted (permanent or temporary) body art studio.

*Tattooing or body piercing at your home or residence is strictly prohibited.*

Once your plan review is approved you must contact a Sanitarian and schedule an opening inspection. The Sanitarian will evaluate your body art studio to ensure that it is in compliance with the Tattoo and/or Body Piercing Regulations and that your body art studio can be operated in a safe and sanitary manner.

Temporary body art studios are tattoo or body piercing studios that set up in conjunction with a fair, festival, or special event such as a tattoo convention or Mountainfest. All temporary body art studios must be fill out an application at least 7 days before the event.

After the application is approved, an inspection of the temporary body art studio by a Sanitarian must be done before the studio can start tattooing or body piercing. Once the studio passes inspection the temporary permit will be issued. Temporary permits are valid for the event where they are issued and are not transferable to another location or person.